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"Students are highly motivated by video games as they can spend dozens of hours playing each week. What if educators could channel this motivation into composing by allowing students the opportunity to compose to old school video games? This presentation demonstrates a variety of 8-bit musical experiences that integrate technology, theory, history, composition, and performance with 8-bit video games."

Interactive handout/companion website for ILMEA Summer Learning Series session. Description of session follows: Do you struggle with composing in your classroom and don't seem to know where to start? Do you love composing and need some new ideas? If either is true, this session is for you. In this session, you will be introduced to numerous compositional frameworks and projects to get your students (and yourself) engaging and playing with sound in new and deeply meaningful ways. From tech-based tools to composing with children's literature, from mapping and soundscapes to musical storytelling, in this session, you will explore the joys (and struggles) of composing with your students while also discussing topics like conflict management and assessment. You will walk away with some ready-made projects to try, some pieces that you've composed, and plenty of your own creative compositional ideas.

This free sample pack can be used with Ableton Live to create 8-bit compositions from over 10,000 free samples.

This list has a variety of 8-bit and chiptune related links and resources that can be used as inspiration for 8-bit music.

This video walks you through the steps to install an 8-bit VST into GarageBand. Once you install the VST and select it on a track, your midi notation can begin to sound like 8-bit video games.

Noteflight allows you to write music online and embed the music as play along files on your website/blog. The service is free to use and does not require software to create the files (unlike Scorch and SmartMusic).

A demonstration of an 8-bit cover. This video also demonstrates pixel art and could be used as an example of an interdisciplinary project.

A demonstration of an chiptune cover.

This video demonstrates how chiptunes can be performed live using gaming hardware and synthesizers.

A demonstration of an 8-bit remake of Elf. This video also demonstrates pixel art and could be used as an example of an interdisciplinary project.

A demonstration of a modern video game recreated with 8-bit music. This video also demonstrates pixel art and could be used as an example of an interdisciplinary project.

A demonstration of an 8-bit arrangement.

An example of early 8-bit gameplay. Early 8-bit games were limited by the number of sounds they could produce.

A demonstration of an 8-bit arrangement.

This video demonstrates how 8-bit music and sounds can be arranged/composed for modern gameplay videos.

An example of early 8-bit gameplay. Early 8-bit games were limited by the number of sounds they could produce.

This video demonstrates how 8-bit music can be arranged/composed for 8-bit gameplay videos.

This is a video of the first level of Super Mario Brothers. Students can use gameplay videos like this one to score music and sound effects to.

This is a video of a live chiptune performance. This video demonstrates one way 8-bit music can be performed by hacking into the hardware.

This Twitter list is of chiptune/video game music artists. This is a great resource to find people who are active in the 8-bit community.